Bell housing Strength

Could someone tell me what the safe HP and Torque limit would be for a stock alum. pontiac bellhousing would be ?. And what are the after market choices are for scatter shields.  

The stock bell housings held up fine for me back in the day. I suppose 400 hp is a wild guess. I was working at a Pontiac dealer as a mechanic in 1975 or 76, I remember a formula comming off the transporter truck and being floored that it had a Lakewood scattershield right from the factory! Special ordered that way and bright red just as the came back then. Not covered with factory paint.  
Drive it before your dead!

I would say in a car the bellhousing would take over 500 ft-lb of torque from a big block.

The main down fall about aluminum is if the clutch or flywheel explodes it will NOT be contained!  

I have always herd good things about the lakewood stuff and I have seen a few and they look and feel like high quality units.  

Thanks for the info on the bell housing, Looks like I'm pushing the envelope on safety here. I'm doing a frame off on a 67 gto, (still off) the motor is a 69 428 +.030. H-beam rods forged srs pistons, Butler/Edel round port heads,Dougs Headers, port matched performer, 850 street hp holley. comp cams 296/292. R rockers 10.3 to 1 CR. Butler est. this set up to be about 505/510 HP and 545/555 flbs. Keisler RS 5 speed, Ford 9 in. rear end. The body and Interior will be stock.  This car when done will make a few passes on strip per year, I guess I should get it done now while it is easy.
I will look into the lakeweoood shield.
Thanks
Razorone  

Yup better to be safe than sorry having your legs torn up.  

Lakewood blast boxes are one piece of 1/4" thick formed steel and will contain a flywheel explosion. I would also run an engine saver plate, bolted to the engine behind the flywheel.,. this saves your block.
Usually it's the ring gear that cuts loose, since it's only stitch welded on flex plates or pressed on when steel or aluminum flywheels are used.
My nephew lost a few toes, when his stock setup ruptured, at 7000 R's.
He was lucky, it could have been one or both legs.

 
When The Flag Drops,,,



The Bull Chit Stops,,,


P. Engineer, Engine Builder

one might really want to spend the 5 or 6 minutes to look at this article on the subject of bellhousings..

http://www.circletrack.com/drivetraintech/ctrp_0404_bellhousing_alignment/viewall.html